Refrigerator



l I l 1622 766 March 29, 1927. H. s. CLEVELAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. S. CLEVELAND.

REFRIGERATOR Filed July 12, 1926 March 29 1927.

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE@ HARRY S. CLEVELAND, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. i

nEFRrGERAToR.

` Application filed July r ency to cause the cold air to take a short cir` cuit through the provision chamber closely under the bottom of the ice chamber` so that in spite of the fact that the coldest air tends to drop, the coldest air does not really reach the bottom of the provision chamber.

In the use of refrigerators, it is not only customary but the most convenient practice to place the most perishable food articles on the bottom of the provision chamber, and it follows from this and for other reasons that the best results can be obtained by causing the cold air to pass direct-ly from the cold air discharge flues at the bottom of the ice chamber downward to and over the bottom of the provision chamber; and it is to the attainment of this result that my present invention is chieiy directed. Such object is accomplished by the use of air deflectors that depend from the bottom of the ice chamber in such association with the cold air discharge Iiues that they will direct the downwardly moving cold air and start the same well on its way toward the bottom of the provision chamber.

A refrigerator involving the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section taken through the refrigerator on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The case 3 of the refrigerator may be assumed to be ofthe usual insulated and metal or porcelain-lined structure, provided with the customary doors 4 and v5 and having the customary ice chamber 6. provision chamber 7 and provisionesupporting shelves 8. As here shown, the lining at the bottom of the 1926. Serial No. 121,867.

ice chamber 6 is designed to afford a drip pan 9 over which is supported an ice rack 10 adapted to support a cake of ice y in the usual way. The vertical inner wall of the ice chamber 6 has a large return flue 11. In the bottom of the ice chamber 6, at its inter.- mediate portion but preferably to one side of its center, is a main cold air discharge flue 12; and in said bottom, adjacent to the outer side wall ofthe case 3, is a narrow elongated auxiliary cold air discharge fiue 13.,

The iues 12 and 13 are formed by metallic sheets that extend above the bottom of the drip pan 9 so that water cannot run downward therethrough from the drip pan.

An inclined deflecting plate 14, preferably of sheet metal, is attached to the bottom `of the ice chamber 6 and extends obliquely un der the main flue 12 toward the adjacent side wall of the case or, in other words, toward that side of the case against which the auxiliary flue 13 is located. A deflecting plate 15,k

also preferably of sheet metal, is attached to the bottom of the ice chamber 6 and extends vertically downward from the inner wall of the auxiliary cold air discharge iiue 13. These two deflectors 14 and 15 cooperate to cause the cold air to continue its direct downward passage from the lues 12 and 13 and to acquire .such velocity that all of the cold air will be directed further downward than would be the case with the defiectors removed and, moreover, to cause considerable of th'e cold air to move against and over the very bottom of the provision chamber, or substan- 'tially as indicated by the arrows marked on Fig. 1.

This improved circulation insures the lowest temperatures at or closely to the bot tom of the provision chamber where the most perishable foods should be and usually are placed. Moreover, this complete circulation, including circulation over the bottom of the provision chamber, prevents accumulation of moisture on the bottom of said provision chamber and renders the air not only as cold but as dry as is possible in a refrigerator using ice. The air is caused to come in contact with all of the free moisture contained in the refrigerator, as well as mois* ture directly contained on the food articles and, hence, absorbs such moisture, carries the same upward and back into the ice chamber where such moisture will be condensed, precipitated and commingled with the moisture in the drip pan, and from thence carried o through the customary drain pipe 16 and deposited in a water pan 17 or elsewhere out side ot the refrigerator.

To keep the ice calze trom coming in contact with the outer wall ot the ice chamber and thereby obstructing the tlow ot the cold air downward through the tlue 1?. 'I provide a heavy screen l5 that is slightly spaced from said Wall and held in position by hoolilile screws 19.

The refrigerator described is ot as simple construction as any ot the approved standard rctripjcrators und the additional f: `t ot the defiectors is ebitremcly small and7 tact, a negligible item in the totai cost ot the retrieerator. Ot course, the retrigjerator may be made in various dillerent grades. sizes and more or less expensive designs anch moreover a refrigerator coil or other me chanical refrigeration may be substituted for the ice in the eonip-ntment herein tor convenience designated as the ice chamber.

The expression ice chamber1 in this specilication and in the claims, is used tor convenience to desiguar broadly a chamber in which the low ten'ipe ature is produced and would include, for example, a chamber in which the coils or other retrigreratingj elements of mechanical retrigerating system are employed. It will also be understood that so tar as the broad 'features ot the invention are concerned, the refrigerator may take all sorts ot terms and might, 'for exanr ple, be in the torni ot a butehers refrigerating counter designed either to contain ice or retrigerating coils.

That claim is:

l. A refrigerator comprising a case haying` therein an ice chamber located above its bottom and at one side ot' the upper portion of its provision chamber, said ice chaniber having in its bottom at least tufo cold air ports spaced transversely the one being closer to the outer Wall of the ice chamber than the other. and detlectors applied to and depending 'from the bottom ot' said iee chainber, both detlectors directing' the cold air into the saine provision chainoer ot said case. the ore directing' the c'ilfl :iii' downward close to the outer wall o'i1 f-iaid case and the other directing; the cold air toward the outer or iii-st noted detiector.

Ll. A refrigerator coniprising a case haring therein an ice chamber located. above its bottom and at one side ot the upper portion of its provision chamber. said ice chamber haring in its bottom at least two cold air ports spaced transversely the one beingl Closer. to the outer Wall ot the icc chamber than thc other` and de'lectors applied to and depend ingr 'from the bottom ot said ice chamber. both detlectors directing the cold air into the same provision chamber oiE said case1 th? one directing' the cold air downward close to the outer Wall of said case and the other directing` the cold air toward the outer or first noted deliector.y the tirst noted detlector beingentended do\\1i\rard into the provision chamber much` 'farther than thc second noted detlec'tor.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

` HARRY S. CLE/TELAN'D. 

